The most common Nintendo Switch problems, and how to fix them

How to prevent the Nintendo Switch's most common hardware problems

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles on the market — with great exclusives like Super Mario Odysseyand Splatoon 2 — but that doesn’t mean it’s immune to technical problems.

From relatively minor cosmetic damage that can largely be ignored to serious issues that have rendered players’ systems useless, we’ve compiled a list of the most common problems that have befallen Switch owners. When applicable, we’ve also included possible solutions, though we must stress that anything involving taking apart a piece of your console could potentially make the problems worse or void your warranty.

The dock scratches the screen

Mike Epstein/Digital Trends

Mike Epstein/Digital Trends

Moving the Nintendo Switch from its portable configuration into the dock is a process that takes only seconds. If you don’t put the console in perfectly straight, however, it’s quite easy for the dock to leave permanent damage on the outside of your screen. The damage seems to be caused by two pieces of plastic protruding inside the dock, which will make contact with the outside bezel of the Switch at either end of the console when it’s dropped into place.

A screen protector is a must-have accessory, as any damage done by the dock will be to the removable protector and not the console itself. However, early, flexible screen protector kits released for the system, including the “official” PDP product, were cut incorrectly, causing bubbles. Tempered glass covers shouldn’t suffer from this problem. It’s advised to wait about 24 hours before docking your system after using a tempered glass protector, however, as the adhesive could melt if not allowed to set.

In the meantime, users have taped microfiber cloths to the inside of the dock to cover up the two plastic protrusions, as well as small foam pads that cover the dock’s internal nubs. If you can stand spending $8 on something that you’ll remove in a few weeks once your tempered glass protector arrives, you might still want to temporarily install one of the plastic ones.

Should you want your Switch to be protected inside the dock and look absolutely adorable, there is another option that will eliminate the need to use a screen protector altogether, assuming you won’t be traveling with the system. Etsy user TinckoyMakesitSew sells several Switch dock cozies, with themes like Mario, Zelda, classic Nintendo Entertainment System, and Pokémon, as well as several solid colors.

Provided that you have a little extra room for the Switch to sit on your shelf, a slightly more complicated option involves leaving the Switch out of the dock entirely. By connecting an additional USB-C cable to both the dock and the Switch — and placing the Switch on a separate stand so its vents have enough room — the console can still project its image to a television and draw power as if it were sitting in the dock directly. It’s an imperfect solution that could lead to some disconnections, so we recommend experimenting with several cables in order to get a tight fit.

The Joy-Cons disconnect for no reason

Mike Epstein/Digital TrendsMike Epstein/Digital Trends

The most notorious of the Nintendo Switch’s issues thus far, disconnecting left Joy-Con controller, appears to be a fairly widespread problem. The Joy-Con can disconnect with the console, seemingly at random, which can be extra frustrating if it leads to being killed during a good run in Breath of the Wild. Squeezing the controller, placing it behind one’s back, and covering the front of it with a hand all appear to exacerbate the problem.

According to multiple reports and user teardowns, the problem appears to stem from Nintendo’s decision to put the left controller’s Bluetooth antenna inside the circuit board, rather than using a discrete component, which could be positioned optimally.

Nintendo hasn’t publicized it, but the manufacturer seems to have created a passable DIY hack for early adopters. After sending in a faulty Joy-Con to be repaired by Nintendo, CNET’s Sean Hollister discovered that a small piece of conductive foam was placed over the controller’s internal antenna. It seems too easy, but the simple addition reportedly fixed the controller’s synchronization problem.

Conductive foam, which helps to protect against interference, is relatively inexpensive, especially compared to the cost of a replacement Joy-Con controller. You only need a tiny square of the foam for the fix, so you can easily open up several Joy-Con controllers and apply the foam without having to buy more. Alternatively, you can contact Nintendo and send in the controller for repair. This issue has supposedly been resolved in later iterations of the Switch and Joy-Con controllers; however, those with the original version of the console could still experience some issues.

The console bends over time

Nate Barrett/Digital Trends

After leaving your Nintendo Switch running in its dock for an extended period of time, you may find that the system has actually warped or bent very slightly backward on one side. If the problem is severe enough, you could even encounter trouble attempting to remove it from or place it in the dock again.

To test whether or not your Switch has warped, take off both Joy-Con controllers and place the system screen-side down on a completely flat table. If it has warped at all, you will be able to rock it back and forth.

This particular issue doesn’t necessarily have any negative effect on your play experience, and we’ve seen some users report their Switch systems were slightly uneven out of the box. However, if the issue is bothering you, Nintendo is accepting the console for repairs.

The console’s casing cracks

Nate Barrett/Digital Trends

It isn’t as widespread as some of the other issues users have faced with the Switch, but a number of people have still reported finding small cracks on the top of the console’s casing. Typically, the cracks are found near the game card slot or in the bars going across the top vents.

It isn’t clear what causes the cracks to form, but some of those affected claim that they have not treated their system particularly roughly, so it’s possible the issue is linked to the warping problems other users have encountered. If you’re traveling with the Switch in a backpack or purse, we suggest putting it into a sturdy carrying case, as well, as the plastic is remarkably soft for a portable system.

If cracks have formed in your Switch’s casing, your only real option will be to either live with it or, if it has grown worse or spread to other areas of the console, send it to Nintendo for repairs.

The screen randomly freezes, or flashes

Mike Epstein/Digital Trends

Mike Epstein/Digital Trends

In addition to controller issues and problems related to the physical construction of the Nintendo Switch and its dock, a number of users have also experienced screen freezes, as well as horrible Switch seizures that cause the system to blare a high pitched squeal while lights flash faster than an ecstasy-fueled rave. Some users have also experienced temporary freezes that result in games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild crashing, potentially losing their progress.

The only short-term solution that has worked thus far has been to do a “hard reset” of the Switch — holding down the power button for 15 seconds until it completely shuts down, then turning it back on. Though this fixes the issue briefly, affected Switch owners have claimed the issue returns shortly afterward and won’t even be fixed with a factory reset of the system.

Nintendo’s consoles carry a one-year warranty, and we would advise not wasting your time with do-it-yourself fixes for a problem this severe. Instead, contact the company to get a replacement unit sent out as quickly as possible. After spending $300 on a system in addition to games and accessories, you deserve to have it work as intended.

The screen has dead pixels

Dead pixels are annoying on any device, especially portable screens, where they tend to be the focus of all your attention, mocking you for wanting a screen free of imperfections. In the Nintendo Switch’s case, it only works to harm your immersion, but it’s also the only major issue thus far that cannot currently be solved.

Nintendo, on its support website, describes dead pixels as “a characteristic of LCD screens” and says that they should “not be considered a defect.” That means Nintendo will not be fixing them through warranty claims and that you could be stuck with your defective screen — and it is defective — for good.

As Eurogamer points out, however, the company did fix original DS systems over a decade ago that suffered from dead pixels, so it’s possible that Nintendo will reverse its stance at some point in the future.

The battery life is too short

Due to the horsepower Nintendo has managed to pack into the tiny Switch console, you’ll likely notice the battery life is short when you play the most graphically impressive games. After just a couple hours of handheld play in a game like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Doom, the console will need to be recharged. As you likely have the AC adapter that came with your system hooked up to the dock, you either have to go behind your setup and remove it, let the Switch charge in the dock, or purchase a second AC adapter.

There is another option! Third-party accessories manufacturers have created their own charging cases that allow you to play the system for more than twice as long as the standard battery would let you.

We’ve personally tested the SwitchCharge, which released in 2018 after a crowdfunding campaign. The charging case not only more than doubles the amount of time you can play the system on the go, but it also includes a much better kickstand and slots to hold two Switch cartridges. If you have a phone in need of a recharge, the SwitchCharge can even charge that, and you can recharge the case’s battery by plugging it into the Switch’s dock when not in use.

Another option is an external battery pack, like that you’d use for a smartphone or tablet. Be warned, however, that many batteries designed for smartphones don’t output enough juice to charge the Switch while you play it. You’ll see best results from battery packs that can dish out at least 18 watts of power. These packs use a USB Type-C standard called USB Type C with USB Power Delivery, or USB-PD. You’ll also need to keep this in mind when shopping for a backup or portable AC adapter.

The Joy-Con controllers drift

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More than two years into the console’s lifespan, an issue has begun popping up with surprising regularity: Joy-Con “drift.” The issue occurs in the controllers’ analog sticks, which register movement when they are not being used — it’s an issue typically seen on worn controllers across various consoles, but it prevalence on the Switch is nearly unprecedented.

In the past, you would have either had to attempt to perform surgery on your controllers yourself, pay Nintendo to fix them, or bite the bullet and purchase entirely new controllers to replace the faulty ones. However, Nintendo will reportedly repair Joy-Cons for free if you’re suffering from the issue.

You should be able to get replacement Joy-Cons that do not suffer from this issue by contacting Nintendo using the information provided in the table at the top of this page. If you have already paid for a repair from Nintendo, you can also request a refund.

Error Code 2801-7180, issues posting images to Facebook

If you’re anything like us, then chances are you share a ton of pictures and screenshots from your favorite Nintendo Switch games. Unfortunately, the Switch has found itself running into some issues with posting to social media, most notably to Facebook. More officially known as Error Code 2801-7180, this error has cropped up over the past few months, and many Switch users have found themselves at the end of their wits trying to solve it.

Unfortunately, there’s no official fix for Error Code 2801-7180. You can always keep an eye on the Nintendo server status page, which updates with any known issues on a daily basis. Sadly, those running into this issue will simply need to wait until Nintendo sorts out the problem and releases a fix.